WEST POINT, N.Y. — A retired U.S. general who made comments denigrating Islam has been invited to speak to cadets at the U.S. Military Academy during a national prayer breakfast next month.
The Times Herald-Record of Middletown reports that Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin is among the speakers scheduled to attend the Feb. 8 event at West Point. Military academy officials say Boykin will speak to a gathering of Christian, Jewish and Muslim cadets.
Boykin served as an intelligence official during President George W. Bush's administration. In 2003, he made statements portraying the fight against terrorism as a Christian fight against Satan and suggesting that Muslims worship idols.
Boykin retired in 2007.
VoteVets.org, whose supporters include veterans and an Islamic group, has asked West Point's superintendent to drop Boykin from the prayer breakfast.
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